The Best Bar in Cape Town, South Africa

Background Illustration for Nightlife

There's plenty to do in Cape Town after dark. The city's nightlife is concentrated in a number of areas, so you can explore a different one each night or move from one hub to another. Walking, however, isn't always advisable, as some parts of the city are completely deserted and unsafe. Women who are not street savvy should not walk alone or in pairs at night.

Mama Africa

Cape Town Central

Among the few Cape Town venues with live African music, Mama Africa is a good spot, albeit squarely aimed at tourists. It has a live marimba band performing Monday through Saturday, participatory drum circles some nights, traditional Zulu dance performances on Wednesday, gumboot dancers kicking it up on Friday and Saturday, and the in-house Mama Africa band on Sunday. Plus there is always authentic food—from crocodile steaks to matoke (green banana-and-peanut stew)—from different parts of Africa.